Introduction
Our mascot, Poppy, honors the memory of my grandfather, Goyn Talmage, who we called Poppy. He was our role model in his devotion to family, church and country. A shrewd business man in New Orleans with a wonderful sense of humor, he was my idol. His legacy and my ancestors live in Poppy today. My search for our heritage is a fascinating journey which takes us to the founding of our country and even back to the 13th century in England. The Talmage linage traces back through Saxon warriors known as “Toadmag”(meaning man killers) in the 500s in Bentley, England and there is a fascinating inscription in the old Bentley Manor that captures the family’s transition through the Norman Conquest: “When the Normans into England came, Bentley was me seat and Talmash was my name”. This history spans across 14 generations, and starts with the English gentry Talmages of the 1600s when they came to America.
1600’s Voyage to America
Fleeing religious persecution in England my great x12 grandfather, Thomas Talmage, Sr., embarked on a journey seeking freedom to worship God’s word simply and directly. Thomas, a Puritan, boarded The Plough in 1631, a small ship carrying only 10-12 passengers across the Atlantic. For 66 days the tiny group endured miserable conditions, choppy seas, scarce food while they huddled together in prayer. After landing in New England Thomas moved his family to Long Island as a founder. His son, Captain Thomas Talmage, known as “Powder Tom” served as a lieutenant in Captain Bull’s company with the colonel troops as one of the founding fathers of East Hampton Long Island, along with his father.
1700’s Revolutionary War Veteran
The family eventually moved to New Jersey becoming one of the earliest settlers to lay the ground work for our country. In 1780, generations later Major Thomas Talmage, III, the great x5 grandson of Thomas, Sr. fought for American independence in the Revolutionary War wearing the Continental Army blue uniform. 
1800’s Missionary to China: John Van Nest Talmage
The life of my great-great grandfather, Reverend John Van Nest Talmage was extraordinary. His mother, Catherine Van Nest, my great-great-great grandmother was a descendant of Pieter Van Nest, who immigrated to New Amsterdam (now New York City) in 1647 being among the earliest New York settlers. Called to missionary work in Amoy, China where infanticide and idol worship were prevalent, John approached the calling with love for the Chinese people. For over 40 years Reverend Talmage lived among those he sought to convert, learning their language and culture. When Talmage arrived in Amoy there were no churches, no schools, no Christian homes, no hospitals, and only three converts. When he left there were 2,000 converts, seventeen churches with as many pastors under Presbyterian order, a theological seminary, a training school for women, boys’ and girls’ schools, and hospitals scattered throughout the district. Perhaps his greatest achievement was the monumental task of translating the bible into Chinese, making Scripture accessible to countless people in their own language.
In 1889 Reverend Talmage returned to New Jersey cherishing the hope of return to China in his own words “having laid down the shepherd’s robe among the flock he had gathered.” His hope was never realized with his passing in 1892.
The mission in Amoy survived until 1951 when the communists came into power. However, the Talmages had established themselves in Korea as Presbyterian missionaries, so there are three generations of Talmage missionaries in China and Korea.
1900’s China to New Orleans
Reverend John Van Nest’s son, John Sanderman Talmage (1859 – 1933), my great grandfather, was born in China and carried his family’s international connections into business. He moved to New Orleans where he established himself in the rice trade, leveraging his connections to China. Like generations before him, John Sanderman Talmage lived his faith through service as an elder in the Presbyterian Church for 42 years. He married Mariella Crane, uniting yet another founding colonial family into the Talmage lineage. Mariella was a descendant of Jasper Crane, one of the earliest English settlers who arrived in 1637 and settled in New Haven, Connecticut. His son, Azariah Crane, married Mary Treat, daughter of Robert Treat, Governor of Connecticut. The Crane family line also connects to Stephen Crane, author of The Red Badge of Courage.
Goyn Many Talmage “Poppy”
My grandfather, Goyn Talmage (our “Poppy”) continued this legacy of faith and leadership, becoming president of Henderson Sugar Refinery, devoting his life as an elder in the New Orleans Presbyterian Church and serving our country in World War I. My childhood was filed with the company of my grandfather, Poppy, and our close relationship continued until his death in 1980.
He was indeed an inspiration encouraging me to make a difference through service to others.
Conclusion
Today our mascot Poppy reaches out to our community at schools, festivals, nursing homes, children and everywhere he can to bring joy to all ages. His legacy began with his namesake, my grandfather, Goyn Talmage, who stood 400 years from his ancestor, Thomas Talmage, Sr., the Puritan who brought religious freedom to America. From a small ship called the Plough to the founding of our nation, from missionary work in China to business leadership in New Orleans, the Talmage family legacy is one of faith, courage, service, and an unwavering commitment to enriching the lives of others – a legacy that continues today in every smile Poppy brings to those he meets.
Stay tuned for our next chapter on my mother, Poppy’s daughter, Elise Talmage Lieb.
